Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Baen Books (New York, 1991). 1st edition, 1st printing. 389 pages. $4.99.
Description
Political intrigue, culture clash, and romance make a stirring mix in this award-winning follow-up novel to the acclaimed Shards of Honor. In the wake of interplanetary war, former commander Cordelia Naismith has deserted her own planet to marry the leader of the defeated enemy, Aral Vorkosigan. On his home planet of Barrayar, two rival factions are eyeing the recently vacated throne, and Aral, recently appointed Regent of Barrayar by the Emperor on his deathbed, must stand between them. Lord and Lady Vorkosigan, Aral and Cordelia struggle to establish stability in a fragile government thrown into confusion by the transition of power and the threat of civil war. When a palace coup endangers the government, their lives, and her unborn son, Cordelia takes action to secure the safety of her new family and new home.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Barrayar, the second book of the Vorkosigan saga, begins almost immediately following the events of Shards of Honor. Cordelia Vorkosigan (née Naismith) has given up almost everything of her former life on Beta Colony to be with the man she loves. She’s finding life on Barrayar somewhat
Review: I’ve yet to read anything by Bujold that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy, and Barrayar is no exception. She seems equally at home writing fantasy and sci-fi, because what she’s really writing isn’t either: she’s just writing wonderful, character-driven stories, dressed up in the trappings of the genre. Barrayar is actually less science-fiction-y than most, in large part due to the setting. Barrayaran society is roughly modeled on feudal Russia, and there are just as many horses and swords as there are aircars and nerve disruptor pistols. So, while the genre label might say sci-fi, it’s actually really a family saga and political drama… it’s just set on another planet.
But the worldbuilding, as good as it is, is not why I love Bujold’s writing, and not why I loved this book. What I really love are Bujold’s characters, and most of all Cordelia. She is smart, practical, has a wicked sense of humor, and is made of stronger stuff than three of your typical literary heroines put together, but still shows enough emotion and has enough flaws to make her feel real. (I am not ashamed to admit that I now have a raging girl-crush on Cordelia; I want to be her when I grow up, or, failing that, I at least want her to come over so we can sit on the back porch and drink a beer and talk about science and boys.) Aral is equally wonderful, and most of the supporting cast are quite deftly drawn as well. I had less trouble keeping secondary characters straight in this book than I did in Shards of Honor, although there were still a lot of similar-sounding “Vor______” names to keep track of.
The audiobook itself was very well done, although I still find it strange that they selected Grover Gardner to narrate a book that is told almost exclusively from a woman’s point of view. All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and cannot wait for Blackstone to release the rest of the series. 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: I’d certainly recommend Barrayar to just about anybody who appreciates a good character-driven story, whether or not they typically read science fiction. Actually, I’d recommend the whole series to just about anybody – Barrayar follows closely on the heels of Shards of Honor, and not a lot of summary or explanation is provided, so they really should be read in order. But they’re both such wonderful books that I don’t think anybody should miss out on either one.
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hard to adjust to, however; its class and gender stratification, its emphasis on familial lineage and military might, and its lack of technological progress, all make the entire planet seem somewhat backwards, to Cordelia’s way of thinking. To make matters worse, Aral, her husband, has been unwillingly thrust into a position of vast political power: regent to the four-year-old emperor. Learning to navigate the currents of Barrayaran politics is challenging enough, but the planet is full of people who will not hesitate to use Cordelia – and her unborn son – as pawns in their plays for power. Review: I’ve yet to read anything by Bujold that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy, and Barrayar is no exception. She seems equally at home writing fantasy and sci-fi, because what she’s really writing isn’t either: she’s just writing wonderful, character-driven stories, dressed up in the trappings of the genre. Barrayar is actually less science-fiction-y than most, in large part due to the setting. Barrayaran society is roughly modeled on feudal Russia, and there are just as many horses and swords as there are aircars and nerve disruptor pistols. So, while the genre label might say sci-fi, it’s actually really a family saga and political drama… it’s just set on another planet.
But the worldbuilding, as good as it is, is not why I love Bujold’s writing, and not why I loved this book. What I really love are Bujold’s characters, and most of all Cordelia. She is smart, practical, has a wicked sense of humor, and is made of stronger stuff than three of your typical literary heroines put together, but still shows enough emotion and has enough flaws to make her feel real. (I am not ashamed to admit that I now have a raging girl-crush on Cordelia; I want to be her when I grow up, or, failing that, I at least want her to come over so we can sit on the back porch and drink a beer and talk about science and boys.) Aral is equally wonderful, and most of the supporting cast are quite deftly drawn as well. I had less trouble keeping secondary characters straight in this book than I did in Shards of Honor, although there were still a lot of similar-sounding “Vor______” names to keep track of.
The audiobook itself was very well done, although I still find it strange that they selected Grover Gardner to narrate a book that is told almost exclusively from a woman’s point of view. All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and cannot wait for Blackstone to release the rest of the series. 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: I’d certainly recommend Barrayar to just about anybody who appreciates a good character-driven story, whether or not they typically read science fiction. Actually, I’d recommend the whole series to just about anybody – Barrayar follows closely on the heels of Shards of Honor, and not a lot of summary or explanation is provided, so they really should be read in order. But they’re both such wonderful books that I don’t think anybody should miss out on either one.
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LibraryThing member lewispike
Set around Miles' time in utero, in a replicator and fleetingly his early years this would be all to easy to dismiss as a prequel. In some ways it is, but it doesn't read like one. Although you know who's going to live, die, marry etc. it reads at a high enough pace and with interesting enough
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characters to work very well and the inevitable marriages and such are handled as side events painted with more care to the characters than the events themselves. Show Less
LibraryThing member TadAD
A discussion by Bujold says that there were six to seven years, and a couple books, between the writing of Shards of Honor and this book. Those years were well-spent—Barrayar corrects many of the faults of the first book.
The characters are much more three-dimensional; in particular, Cordelia and
The plot is nothing original...a fairly straightforward power struggle leading to escape, survival and recovering the throne...it's fairly easy to predict who will live/die, win/lose and end up hitched. However, this story type is none the worse for having been used before and it moves along at a good pace giving the reader exactly what is expected. Probably the easiest analogy is to think of Rudolf Rassendyll transplanted from Zenda to another planet, with lightflyers instead of horses, disrupters instead of blades (though a sword does figure prominently in the story).
As I said when reviewing Shards of Honor, I think this book is the best place for someone new to the series to start. It's got a better plot. It's got better characterizations—you can get a feel here for the characters you'll see in the succeeding books, and you see them just as they are stepping into their roles. You get a much better sense of the world.
The characters are much more three-dimensional; in particular, Cordelia and
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Sergeant Bothari come across with more depth and emotion. Aral Vorkosigan doesn't change as much, but he's really a fairly minor character in the book...it's about Cordelia. Assuming you're reading in chronological order, this book is where you start to get a real sense of the Barrayaran culture, particularly with the presence of Count Piotr Vorkosigan, who only had a cameo in the first book.The plot is nothing original...a fairly straightforward power struggle leading to escape, survival and recovering the throne...it's fairly easy to predict who will live/die, win/lose and end up hitched. However, this story type is none the worse for having been used before and it moves along at a good pace giving the reader exactly what is expected. Probably the easiest analogy is to think of Rudolf Rassendyll transplanted from Zenda to another planet, with lightflyers instead of horses, disrupters instead of blades (though a sword does figure prominently in the story).
As I said when reviewing Shards of Honor, I think this book is the best place for someone new to the series to start. It's got a better plot. It's got better characterizations—you can get a feel here for the characters you'll see in the succeeding books, and you see them just as they are stepping into their roles. You get a much better sense of the world.
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LibraryThing member empress8411
Cordelia Vorkosigan, now married to the Regent of Barrayar, is thrust into the politics of a culture and country that is still foreign to her. In the midst of this, Cordelia discovers she is pregnant.
Bujold created in Cordelia, a complex character, fierce but fair, mother and solider, intelligent
The story itself was face-paced – within a few pages, Bad Things happen and challenges arise that threaten the stability of her new home and her family – and endanger the life of her child. The plot was plausible, action-packed, with just the right amount of suspense, and a healthy dose of humor.
And the ending (which I won’t spoil) – Gah! I cheered out loud! Cordelia was so freaking bad-ass!
Read this – particular if you enjoy stories with well-rounded female characters.
Bujold created in Cordelia, a complex character, fierce but fair, mother and solider, intelligent
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and kind, uncompromising but gentle, logical but not cold. Watching her navigate the unfolding events in the story made me wish she was real! The story itself was face-paced – within a few pages, Bad Things happen and challenges arise that threaten the stability of her new home and her family – and endanger the life of her child. The plot was plausible, action-packed, with just the right amount of suspense, and a healthy dose of humor.
And the ending (which I won’t spoil) – Gah! I cheered out loud! Cordelia was so freaking bad-ass!
Read this – particular if you enjoy stories with well-rounded female characters.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold continues and completes the story of Captain Cordelia Naismith and her husband, Aral Vorkosigan, now Regent of Barrayar. Where the first book was a space opera of adventure and love, this book is richer in content and detail using the internal politics of Barrayar
I loved how this couple work together to solve their problems and in Barrayar they have some major decisions to make and, mostly, Aral stands firmly with Cordelia. Of course there came the one time when Aral wavered and Cordelia felt impelled to go off on her own adventure leaving him behind to worry over her safety. To my delight when he tells her not to do something like that again, she tells him to make sure that she doesn’t have to.
I have to also make mention of the wonderful supporting characters, some old friends from the first book and some new ones that help to flesh out the story. My personal favorite is the damaged Bothari and I am glad to note that he has been given a position that should keep him in the forefront of the next book. My only complaint is that this is the last book with Cordelia being front and center as the main character. As the series continues, the focus will now be on her son, Miles. I will miss the brave, competent but, oh so human Cordelia.
As much as I liked the first book, this second book is even better and has set a very high standard for the remainder of the series.
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as a launch pad to continue the adventures of this couple, now expecting their first child. One thing that has carried over from the first book is the perfect fit this couple make. This is a mature relationship built on mutual respect, honor and love. I loved how this couple work together to solve their problems and in Barrayar they have some major decisions to make and, mostly, Aral stands firmly with Cordelia. Of course there came the one time when Aral wavered and Cordelia felt impelled to go off on her own adventure leaving him behind to worry over her safety. To my delight when he tells her not to do something like that again, she tells him to make sure that she doesn’t have to.
I have to also make mention of the wonderful supporting characters, some old friends from the first book and some new ones that help to flesh out the story. My personal favorite is the damaged Bothari and I am glad to note that he has been given a position that should keep him in the forefront of the next book. My only complaint is that this is the last book with Cordelia being front and center as the main character. As the series continues, the focus will now be on her son, Miles. I will miss the brave, competent but, oh so human Cordelia.
As much as I liked the first book, this second book is even better and has set a very high standard for the remainder of the series.
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LibraryThing member Rubygarnet
This is the book that got me into Bujold. The summary I was presented with was "A woman goes on a mission to rescue her unborn son."
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
My fourth Vorkosigan novel (third in chronological sequence, eighth in publication order) picks up right from the end of the previous one, Shards of Honor. Indeed, Bujold's very interesting afterword to the NESFA edition discusses how originally Shards was going to be longer but she realized she
I had actually read Shards and Barrayar before; over a decade ago my friend loaned me an omnibus edition of the two. Rereading the review I wrote at the time, it's almost hilariously lukewarm:It has some adventure narrative tropes I find uncomfortable (the "other" being simultaneously more dangerous and more interesting than the home society), some slightly strange gender politics (the woman must give up her society utterly for the man she loves, who never seriously considers it), and some stuff that's just plain weird (everyone reveres one character who is a rapist), but overall I enjoyed it. It gets off to a rough start, to be honest-- there's a lot of journeying through a dangerous landscape, which I find tedious, and our protagonist Cordelia has a tendency to be rescued by other people a lot. But at the one-third mark, she finally starts making her own decisions, fleeing her home planet in a fantastic sequence, and then traveling to Barrayar, where she marries Aral Vorkosigan and is forced to navigate her way in a strange society. At this point, I was completely absorbed, and I loved all the political maneuvering and civil war stuff, and Cordelia herself shone quite well.On this read, it was pretty obvious to me that the books are interrogating the things I found uncomfortable, and I'm not sure why I didn't know that the first time; these books are all about that contact between cultures and danger of being fascinated by the "other"; the gender politics of Barrayar are continuously scrutinized. And when on Earth was Cordelia ever a victim who needed to be rescued!? What I do think is fair is that I clearly liked Barrayar more than Shards. While Shards is good, I definitely think Bujold got better as a novelist in the interim; Shards is like three linked novellas while Barrayar has a unity of plot and, especially, theme.
The other really interesting tidbit the afterword brought into focus for me was that this was a book about parenting. I just don't think I saw that at age 24, and even if I had, it would not have resonated the way it does as a 38-year-old father of two. Most of Cordelia's emotions and decisions are driven by the fact that she's a parent. This is obviously the case when it comes to Miles, but it's true almost everywhere in the book: the way she thinks about the boy emperor, Gregor, for example, or her ability to figure out what the emperor's mother Kareena is thinking. I definitely liked the book before, but this time through I felt it, there was a real intensity to it. The book is filled with great moments, some of them funny, some of them grim, all of them thoughtful and considered. I won't list them here, but if you've read it, you'll easily bring a number of them to mind.
Science fiction can sometime feel like a young person's game: youthful people doing epic stuff like fighting empires. But Barrayar is science fiction for the middle aged. Yes, there are evil empires, but it's about the struggle to be a good parent in all its myriad forms, the right you keep up every day, not always because you want to, but because you won't be yourself if you give up.
I know there are more Cordelia-focused novels in the saga's "main" sequence, but it's a shame there aren't more of these books about her younger days on Barrayar, because in some ways she's an even more interesting protagonist than Miles.
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was introducing new complications instead of wrapping up existing ones, so she went backward and found a spot where it could stop, orphaning several thousand words that she'd written. It was another five years or so before she went back to that orphaned material and realized it could form the beginning of a second novel about Cordelia, one about—as the title is very clear about—her new life on the planet Barrayar.I had actually read Shards and Barrayar before; over a decade ago my friend loaned me an omnibus edition of the two. Rereading the review I wrote at the time, it's almost hilariously lukewarm:It has some adventure narrative tropes I find uncomfortable (the "other" being simultaneously more dangerous and more interesting than the home society), some slightly strange gender politics (the woman must give up her society utterly for the man she loves, who never seriously considers it), and some stuff that's just plain weird (everyone reveres one character who is a rapist), but overall I enjoyed it. It gets off to a rough start, to be honest-- there's a lot of journeying through a dangerous landscape, which I find tedious, and our protagonist Cordelia has a tendency to be rescued by other people a lot. But at the one-third mark, she finally starts making her own decisions, fleeing her home planet in a fantastic sequence, and then traveling to Barrayar, where she marries Aral Vorkosigan and is forced to navigate her way in a strange society. At this point, I was completely absorbed, and I loved all the political maneuvering and civil war stuff, and Cordelia herself shone quite well.On this read, it was pretty obvious to me that the books are interrogating the things I found uncomfortable, and I'm not sure why I didn't know that the first time; these books are all about that contact between cultures and danger of being fascinated by the "other"; the gender politics of Barrayar are continuously scrutinized. And when on Earth was Cordelia ever a victim who needed to be rescued!? What I do think is fair is that I clearly liked Barrayar more than Shards. While Shards is good, I definitely think Bujold got better as a novelist in the interim; Shards is like three linked novellas while Barrayar has a unity of plot and, especially, theme.
The other really interesting tidbit the afterword brought into focus for me was that this was a book about parenting. I just don't think I saw that at age 24, and even if I had, it would not have resonated the way it does as a 38-year-old father of two. Most of Cordelia's emotions and decisions are driven by the fact that she's a parent. This is obviously the case when it comes to Miles, but it's true almost everywhere in the book: the way she thinks about the boy emperor, Gregor, for example, or her ability to figure out what the emperor's mother Kareena is thinking. I definitely liked the book before, but this time through I felt it, there was a real intensity to it. The book is filled with great moments, some of them funny, some of them grim, all of them thoughtful and considered. I won't list them here, but if you've read it, you'll easily bring a number of them to mind.
Science fiction can sometime feel like a young person's game: youthful people doing epic stuff like fighting empires. But Barrayar is science fiction for the middle aged. Yes, there are evil empires, but it's about the struggle to be a good parent in all its myriad forms, the right you keep up every day, not always because you want to, but because you won't be yourself if you give up.
I know there are more Cordelia-focused novels in the saga's "main" sequence, but it's a shame there aren't more of these books about her younger days on Barrayar, because in some ways she's an even more interesting protagonist than Miles.
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LibraryThing member iayork
Lady Vorkosigan did not fit in...: The Lady, also known to us as Cordelia Naismith, was now on Barrayar where she was trying to understand how the culture and politics worked (and failing). But that didn't seem much of a problem. She would be a good wife and mother, go to a few parties, make a few
Life is not so simple. With the Emperor's death her husband is named Regent and his honor, and sense of duty, is the only thing standing between peace and the horrors of a civil war among first-rate soliders, ruthless Vor lords and advanced technology.
She's still trying to figure things out when her yet unborn son is kidnapped.
And the Vor lords thought THEY were ruthless!
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appearances. What else did she need to do?Life is not so simple. With the Emperor's death her husband is named Regent and his honor, and sense of duty, is the only thing standing between peace and the horrors of a civil war among first-rate soliders, ruthless Vor lords and advanced technology.
She's still trying to figure things out when her yet unborn son is kidnapped.
And the Vor lords thought THEY were ruthless!
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LibraryThing member JechtShot
Barrayar picks up right where Shards of Honor left off with Captain Cordelia Vorkosigan (nee Naismiith) and Lord Regent Aral Vorkosigan falling into their new roles in political leadership, but this is a very different book from Shards. Bujold switches away from intergalactic action and instead
I’m probably in the minority here, but I preferred Shards of Honor to Barrayar. Granted, Bujold’s writing is much improved, but too much of the book is spent in Cordelia’s head and for me the plot was lacking. The politics of Barrayar were discussed extensively, but I felt much of this was covered in this books predecessor. However, I like the characters well enough that I plan to continue on with the series. I am looking forward to seeing where the world will take the energetic young Miles in future books.
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focuses on character relationships and the inner monologue and struggles of an expectant mother. The good news is that this book takes place on Barrayar and if there is one thing you can count on, it’s that a change in the political landscape is sure to cause a bit of unrest.I’m probably in the minority here, but I preferred Shards of Honor to Barrayar. Granted, Bujold’s writing is much improved, but too much of the book is spent in Cordelia’s head and for me the plot was lacking. The politics of Barrayar were discussed extensively, but I felt much of this was covered in this books predecessor. However, I like the characters well enough that I plan to continue on with the series. I am looking forward to seeing where the world will take the energetic young Miles in future books.
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LibraryThing member melannen
This is the story of Cordelia Vorkosigan's marriage: and that's what it is, above all: how two middle-aged people managed to make a marriage stronge enough to hold them up despite an entire planet trying to destroy them.
Oh, and there's a political coup and a bunch of murders and Cordelia goes
Note : my cover is *horrible* I really with I had the other paperback cover, the one with the two hands clasped around the cane. Which is not only at least vaguely accurate, it's the most compelling image in the whole book.
Oh, and there's a political coup and a bunch of murders and Cordelia goes
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shopping and stuff. Which is also all good. Note : my cover is *horrible* I really with I had the other paperback cover, the one with the two hands clasped around the cane. Which is not only at least vaguely accurate, it's the most compelling image in the whole book.
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LibraryThing member humouress
Barrayar
This continues the story of Cordelia, now married to Vorkosigan and living on Barrayar, how the couple are unwillingly caught up in the politics of Barrayar and the tumultous events surrounding the birth of their son Miles, who is the protagonist of the continuing books in the Vorkosigan
Shards of Honour ended with Cordelia on Barryar and Aral retired (not really 'spoiler'; with a whole series ahead, you must have seen that coming).
That retirement is about to end as he takes up the Regency on behalf of 5 year old Emperor Gregor, and Cordelia finds herself not just having to get used to the life of a Vor lady on Barrayar (a far cry from proletarian Beta Colony), but to that of the wife of the Regent. And not just as the wife of a Regent, but the wife of an honourable Regent besieged on all sides by threats both physical and political, by causes both frivolous and lethally serious.
As a battle-seasoned Vor lord, Aral handles the empire while Cordelia deals with her pregnancy the old-fashioned Barrayaran way, which involves natural gestation and natural childbirth; barbaric, to her Betan mind, when it can all be done s-fely in vitro.
The two situations collide terrifyingly when the backlash from an attack on Aral affects Cordelia and Miles too and results in many of Miles's future physical liabilities - which form the starting point to other stories in the series.
And while the couple are still dealing with the aftermath and the effects on their baby, the Barrayaran political infighting erupts, with the planets of the Imperium as the prize ...
I love the way this book is written; partly the interaction of the characters, partly the action - when Cordelia gets to utilise her training and skills again - partly the trademark humour woven through the narrative. I like the way so many secondary characters (Droushnakovi for instance) are allowed to develop. Not to mention Bothari's assignation as Miles's bodyguard from the moment of his 'birth', which is significant to Miles's future - but that's another story.
And, oh! Sergeant Bothari. I'm pretty sure that if I came across such a character in real life I would be, at the very least, cautious around them. But Bujold, through Cordelia and even Aral, lets us see that even such a spiritually and mentally scarred creature has his own honour. He seems to be a favourite character of readers of the series; he's certainly one of mine.
Well, if she wanted to look dainty, all she had to do was stand next to Sergeant Bothari. He loomed mournfully beside her, all two metres of him. Cordelia considered herself a tall woman, but the top of her head was only level with his shoulder. He had a gargoyle's face, closed, wary, beak-nosed, its lumpiness exaggerated to criminality by his military-burr haircut. Even Count Vorkosigan's elegant livery, dark brown with the symbols of the house embroidered in silver, failed to save Bothari from his astonishing ugliness.
The book is full of action, adventure and planetary politics. It also highlights the way families, children and unborn babies can be hostages to fate as they get caught up in a political coup. Although there are tragedies, McMaster Bujold's writing also displays the humour that makes the Miles books more lighthearted.
Beautifully crafted and well paced. A lot of action. A lot of tension. A lot of fun. This is my favourite book of one of my favourite series.
A very well written book - recommended. Read it!
This continues the story of Cordelia, now married to Vorkosigan and living on Barrayar, how the couple are unwillingly caught up in the politics of Barrayar and the tumultous events surrounding the birth of their son Miles, who is the protagonist of the continuing books in the Vorkosigan
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saga.Shards of Honour ended with Cordelia on Barryar and Aral retired (not really 'spoiler'; with a whole series ahead, you must have seen that coming).
That retirement is about to end as he takes up the Regency on behalf of 5 year old Emperor Gregor, and Cordelia finds herself not just having to get used to the life of a Vor lady on Barrayar (a far cry from proletarian Beta Colony), but to that of the wife of the Regent. And not just as the wife of a Regent, but the wife of an honourable Regent besieged on all sides by threats both physical and political, by causes both frivolous and lethally serious.
As a battle-seasoned Vor lord, Aral handles the empire while Cordelia deals with her pregnancy the old-fashioned Barrayaran way, which involves natural gestation and natural childbirth; barbaric, to her Betan mind, when it can all be done s-fely in vitro.
The two situations collide terrifyingly when the backlash from an attack on Aral affects Cordelia and Miles too and results in many of Miles's future physical liabilities - which form the starting point to other stories in the series.
And while the couple are still dealing with the aftermath and the effects on their baby, the Barrayaran political infighting erupts, with the planets of the Imperium as the prize ...
I love the way this book is written; partly the interaction of the characters, partly the action - when Cordelia gets to utilise her training and skills again - partly the trademark humour woven through the narrative. I like the way so many secondary characters (Droushnakovi for instance) are allowed to develop. Not to mention Bothari's assignation as Miles's bodyguard from the moment of his 'birth', which is significant to Miles's future - but that's another story.
And, oh! Sergeant Bothari. I'm pretty sure that if I came across such a character in real life I would be, at the very least, cautious around them. But Bujold, through Cordelia and even Aral, lets us see that even such a spiritually and mentally scarred creature has his own honour. He seems to be a favourite character of readers of the series; he's certainly one of mine.
Well, if she wanted to look dainty, all she had to do was stand next to Sergeant Bothari. He loomed mournfully beside her, all two metres of him. Cordelia considered herself a tall woman, but the top of her head was only level with his shoulder. He had a gargoyle's face, closed, wary, beak-nosed, its lumpiness exaggerated to criminality by his military-burr haircut. Even Count Vorkosigan's elegant livery, dark brown with the symbols of the house embroidered in silver, failed to save Bothari from his astonishing ugliness.
The book is full of action, adventure and planetary politics. It also highlights the way families, children and unborn babies can be hostages to fate as they get caught up in a political coup. Although there are tragedies, McMaster Bujold's writing also displays the humour that makes the Miles books more lighthearted.
Beautifully crafted and well paced. A lot of action. A lot of tension. A lot of fun. This is my favourite book of one of my favourite series.
A very well written book - recommended. Read it!
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LibraryThing member SandDune
Captain Cordelia Naismith is now Lady Vorkosigan, having married Admiral Aral Vorkosigan at the end of previous book [Cordelia's Honor], and is coming to terms with the life of a Barrayan lady. A life surrounded by liveried retainers and armed guards, beset by the formal protocol of Barrayan
But Barrayan politics are anything but peaceful and Cordelia is left very little time to enjoy her pregnancy in peace. Not everyone was happy with Admiral Vorkosigan's elevation to become regent, considering him dangerously progressive in some of his attitudes, and an assassination attempt soon brings home that his position is not secure. And as events develop it becomes apparent that the life of action that Cordelia had known as a captain in the Betan Astronomical Survey is by no means over.
A really fun read this one. I don't think I absolutely love the series so far as much as some people but I do like it a lot. In particular, the contrast of the Barrayaran and Betan societies works very well with oddities for the reader on both sides.
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society, and the difficulties of trailing skirts. Not such an quiet life as she had imagined either, as her husband has been appointed regent to the four year old Prince Gregor, who will succeed the dying Emperor Ezar. And she is also coming to terms with her pregnancy, on her home of Beta Colony most pregnancies are gestated in artificial wombs, once the potential parent has passed the appropriate physical, psychological and economic tests of course, and taken the course to qualify for a parent's licence, so that the more natural arrangements on Barrayar seem a little primitive.But Barrayan politics are anything but peaceful and Cordelia is left very little time to enjoy her pregnancy in peace. Not everyone was happy with Admiral Vorkosigan's elevation to become regent, considering him dangerously progressive in some of his attitudes, and an assassination attempt soon brings home that his position is not secure. And as events develop it becomes apparent that the life of action that Cordelia had known as a captain in the Betan Astronomical Survey is by no means over.
A really fun read this one. I don't think I absolutely love the series so far as much as some people but I do like it a lot. In particular, the contrast of the Barrayaran and Betan societies works very well with oddities for the reader on both sides.
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LibraryThing member PiyushC
This is the second book (chronologically) in the Vorkosigan Saga, the first being Shards of Honour, the book I started my year long Vorkosigan Saga read this.
I have elaborated enough on Cordelia's character in my previous review, in this (short) one, I will talk more about the book.
Cordelia takes
I was however disappointed that in her effort to flaunt Cordelia, Bujold made Aral too much of a side character - we don't see the non-Cordelia portions of the war at all! And I do mean, at all! The title of the book could well have been Cordelia in Barrayar.
There was enough space for the two to co-exist, Cordelia's adventures set in the background of Aral's manoeuvring of the war effort, with the contrast in their (supplementary) abilities would probably have made for much better reading in my opinion.
I have elaborated enough on Cordelia's character in my previous review, in this (short) one, I will talk more about the book.
Cordelia takes
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off from the first book, doing all the things which endeared her to me and I am sure many other readers. She, then dons her Rambo outfit, and even in that she excels. I was however disappointed that in her effort to flaunt Cordelia, Bujold made Aral too much of a side character - we don't see the non-Cordelia portions of the war at all! And I do mean, at all! The title of the book could well have been Cordelia in Barrayar.
There was enough space for the two to co-exist, Cordelia's adventures set in the background of Aral's manoeuvring of the war effort, with the contrast in their (supplementary) abilities would probably have made for much better reading in my opinion.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Wow what a contrast. The first book in the series Shards of Honour was OK. SF lite fluff, enjoyable, but nothing special. Barrayar is a very marked step up in quality and totally griping. This is still soft SF, character driven and almost oblivious to technology, but none the worse for it.
Again out
There are only a few minor problems to be found if you look for them - the various Vors become confusing, as does the random switiching between Aral and Vorksigian. The focus is solely on Cordelia so we have to wait for much that happens elsewhere until someone can tell her about it. This also means of course many of the other characters don't gain much depth, although Bujold does a much better job here than in the previous work, or other authors in the genre. And given that I don't like multicharactered viewpoints this could be a plus. Finally the ending - this seems to be a Bujold issue with a few of her books - The dramatic finale happens some 60+pages before the end of the story. Rather than finishing on a high, we get a gradual letdown as various minor points are tidied up - which I feel would better be left to a Prologue in the next book.
There is much to be lauded: the dramatic tension is cranked right up. Cordelia's concerns for Aral and her infant son run rampant through every line. And we getting the interweaving romance and psychiatric concerns of her staff. The social commentry on the evolving political dynamics between custom and technology, traditiona dn innovation is also remarkably well done. Played out in various conversation between Cordelia and some of the Counts it never comes across as heavy handed, but is still very clear in which direction Bujold leans. The pacing is captivating - apart from the very final pages - as events build up we're caught in Cordelia's world desperate tofind out how she resolves her troubles.
Well worth reading even for anyone who doens't like SF, a superb example in how to tell a story.
Again out
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focus and the hero is Cordelia, now Vorkosigian, and married to the retired Aral. They've managed at least a couple of months of peace and pregnancy before the dying Emporer summons Aral to become Regent to his Heir. Cordelia's foreign progressive influence on Aral is not highly regarded by the other Counts in the culturally isolated backwater that is Barrayar, especially when her suggestions overturn centuries of perfectly functional tradition. An attempted Coup is inevitable.There are only a few minor problems to be found if you look for them - the various Vors become confusing, as does the random switiching between Aral and Vorksigian. The focus is solely on Cordelia so we have to wait for much that happens elsewhere until someone can tell her about it. This also means of course many of the other characters don't gain much depth, although Bujold does a much better job here than in the previous work, or other authors in the genre. And given that I don't like multicharactered viewpoints this could be a plus. Finally the ending - this seems to be a Bujold issue with a few of her books - The dramatic finale happens some 60+pages before the end of the story. Rather than finishing on a high, we get a gradual letdown as various minor points are tidied up - which I feel would better be left to a Prologue in the next book.
There is much to be lauded: the dramatic tension is cranked right up. Cordelia's concerns for Aral and her infant son run rampant through every line. And we getting the interweaving romance and psychiatric concerns of her staff. The social commentry on the evolving political dynamics between custom and technology, traditiona dn innovation is also remarkably well done. Played out in various conversation between Cordelia and some of the Counts it never comes across as heavy handed, but is still very clear in which direction Bujold leans. The pacing is captivating - apart from the very final pages - as events build up we're caught in Cordelia's world desperate tofind out how she resolves her troubles.
Well worth reading even for anyone who doens't like SF, a superb example in how to tell a story.
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LibraryThing member RBeffa
This novel follows Shards of Honor which I read last year and is a continuation of the romantic adventure that began there. This is very much a woman's science fiction novel told pretty much the entire way from inside the head and from the eyes of Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan. We get a lot of
I like that this book is in the library of the International Space Station!
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history and backstory for characters who make later appearances in the series of novels. The two stories together are a great pair of planetary romances with quite a few interesting characters and plot twists and adventures. I thought the story was a little slow to start but once it took off, it really took off, and then it REALLY took off. I like that this book is in the library of the International Space Station!
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
Cordelia and Aral Vorkosigan are now married and expecting a child -- and so they intend to settle down to a quiet life at the Vorkosigan country estate. All of that changes, however, when Aral is appointed as regent to the five-year-old emperor. Cordelia finds herself caught up in a whirl of court
This is a fantastic book, and I liked it even better than Shards. The characters, the action, the humor . . . I could go on and on. Bujold engages in some thinly veiled social commentary (Cordelia's appalled reaction to certain barbaric elements of Barrayaran society), but always with a light hand and in a way that enhances the story rather than detracting from it. And, though Miles is only an embryonic presence for most of the book, I'm certainly looking forward to getting to know him better in the rest of the series.
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politics -- and then, worse, civil war. An uprising from an unexpected source threatens the emperor, the country, and Cordelia and Aral's unborn child. What's an expectant mother to do? Well, Cordelia has some very interesting ideas . . .This is a fantastic book, and I liked it even better than Shards. The characters, the action, the humor . . . I could go on and on. Bujold engages in some thinly veiled social commentary (Cordelia's appalled reaction to certain barbaric elements of Barrayaran society), but always with a light hand and in a way that enhances the story rather than detracting from it. And, though Miles is only an embryonic presence for most of the book, I'm certainly looking forward to getting to know him better in the rest of the series.
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LibraryThing member TheCrow2
Sequel to Shrads of Honor, this book's better and has more level than the previous one. More political conflict, less shooting... Unfortunately the series wasn't successful in Hungary, so I have to order the sequels in english. And yes, the cover is crap....
LibraryThing member crazybatcow
An excellent back-fill of Miles' origins. I really liked how characters that play a big role later in Miles' life are introduced and developed here. Cordelia is also interesting as a character on her own - trying to make it in a world very different from her home planet.
There is no confusion as to
There is no confusion as to
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what political stance Bujold holds, but it isn't overwhelming or condescending. There's enough action and suspense to keep the story moving forward, but it has a huge character and society development component to it. Show Less
LibraryThing member thombr
I had read (and listened to) the rest of the Vorkosigan series (starting with Warrior's Apprentice) twice when I finally got around to this book. I'm actually glad I read it in this order. I think this book would have been enjoyable if read in the proper sequence. But I thoroughly enjoyed learning
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where and how my favorite characters came to be. I love this series and this book certainly makes a great addition (or start)---I need to work back to Shards of Honor next. Show Less
LibraryThing member sleahey
This slelection of the Vorkosigan series covers the background of Miles's birth and explains the origins of his birth defects. The relationships between Cordelia and Aral, Kou and Drou, Count Pietr, and Bothari are fascinating, especially for readers of the later books. The adventure and military
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components are exciting and make for fast page turning. Show Less
LibraryThing member suzemo
I love this book. I love Cordelia and the way she trips through a new world with different customs. I love the way she's judged and changes things around her when she doesn't really look (or necessarily) understand the broader implications, because she sees something that needs to be done and she
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does it. I love that she and Aral are not perfect, gorgeous, automatic heroes. And I pretty much love all of the rest of the characters. The plot is fast and crisp, Bujold doesn't waste any time or words. This book is super fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member MlleEhreen
A lot of people think that Barrayar is the superior of the two books chronicling the adventures of Aral and Cordelia Vorkosigan (the other, and first, being Shards of Honor - the two book should not be read out of order). And Barrayar is really good. But it includes a lot of plot elements that do
For example: I have a really strong, totally irrational phobia about pregnancy. I'd explain but nobody wants to hear about all the ways that fetuses remind me of parasites. Cordelia spends most of this book pregnant, defending her baby's right to live, and just generally being a mama bear. It's well done but...not my thing.
And also: I get really grumpy when a character like Cordelia, who's introduced as this pants-wearing, career-first badass, shows up in a second book married, playing second fiddle the husband, and wearing skirts all the time. Admittedly, Cordelia's not a warrior. And in Shards of Honor she spent a fair amount of time as a prisoner of war - not exactly a position of strength, though Cordelia seems to do best when she's got her back up against the wall. But she and Aral were united by their professionalism, their dedication to the highest ideals of their careers.
In Barrayar, she's a sort of sci-fi First Lady and she's restricted, mostly, to the activities of a Barrayaran female. She buys presents, socializes with other powerful women, and gestates. And, yes, that's called assimilation and exactly what she ought to be doing, and yes, she does have a few opportunities to break out the badass, but...I'm just not as riveted by the life of a political wife as I was by the adventures of a scientist spaceship captain.
That being said - the book is deeper and more complex than Shards of Honor. In Barrayar Aral and Cordelia no longer have to worry about obeying orders - Aral is the highest authority. Instead, he and Cordelia falter under the weight of responsibility, and let guilt weaken them. They aren't separated by loyalty to country; they're married, and settled on Barrayar. This time around, Aral's responsibilities take up almost all his time and the hard choices he makes reduce him to a shadow of his former self, while Cordelia's fierce protectiveness of her baby puts her at odds with Aral's family and, in fact, the entire nobility of Barrayar.
If Shards of Honor ultimately led to one horrible decision that nearly broke Aral, Barrayar is the Chinese water torture version, the slow erosion of character version, as messy as Shards was clear.
It's still highly quotable - "You should have fallen in love with a happy man, if you wanted happiness. But no, you had to fall for the breathtaking beauty of pain", for example, or "Cordelia's own soul felt like an exhausted snail, shelled in a glassy numbness." And it's still about good people struggling to do the right thing in a world that smashes everything right and good about a person to a million tiny pieces. In a way, it's the Aaron Sorkin version of sci-fi, with these heroic characters who lead you through the most gruesome situations.
Really, if you read Shards of Honor you'll know whether or not you want to continue with the series. I did, and I think I'll be moving on to read at least a little about Miles Vorkosigan, Aral and Cordelia's son.
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not appeal to me personally, and regardless of the book's objective quality made it less fun for me to read.For example: I have a really strong, totally irrational phobia about pregnancy. I'd explain but nobody wants to hear about all the ways that fetuses remind me of parasites. Cordelia spends most of this book pregnant, defending her baby's right to live, and just generally being a mama bear. It's well done but...not my thing.
And also: I get really grumpy when a character like Cordelia, who's introduced as this pants-wearing, career-first badass, shows up in a second book married, playing second fiddle the husband, and wearing skirts all the time. Admittedly, Cordelia's not a warrior. And in Shards of Honor she spent a fair amount of time as a prisoner of war - not exactly a position of strength, though Cordelia seems to do best when she's got her back up against the wall. But she and Aral were united by their professionalism, their dedication to the highest ideals of their careers.
In Barrayar, she's a sort of sci-fi First Lady and she's restricted, mostly, to the activities of a Barrayaran female. She buys presents, socializes with other powerful women, and gestates. And, yes, that's called assimilation and exactly what she ought to be doing, and yes, she does have a few opportunities to break out the badass, but...I'm just not as riveted by the life of a political wife as I was by the adventures of a scientist spaceship captain.
That being said - the book is deeper and more complex than Shards of Honor. In Barrayar Aral and Cordelia no longer have to worry about obeying orders - Aral is the highest authority. Instead, he and Cordelia falter under the weight of responsibility, and let guilt weaken them. They aren't separated by loyalty to country; they're married, and settled on Barrayar. This time around, Aral's responsibilities take up almost all his time and the hard choices he makes reduce him to a shadow of his former self, while Cordelia's fierce protectiveness of her baby puts her at odds with Aral's family and, in fact, the entire nobility of Barrayar.
If Shards of Honor ultimately led to one horrible decision that nearly broke Aral, Barrayar is the Chinese water torture version, the slow erosion of character version, as messy as Shards was clear.
It's still highly quotable - "You should have fallen in love with a happy man, if you wanted happiness. But no, you had to fall for the breathtaking beauty of pain", for example, or "Cordelia's own soul felt like an exhausted snail, shelled in a glassy numbness." And it's still about good people struggling to do the right thing in a world that smashes everything right and good about a person to a million tiny pieces. In a way, it's the Aaron Sorkin version of sci-fi, with these heroic characters who lead you through the most gruesome situations.
Really, if you read Shards of Honor you'll know whether or not you want to continue with the series. I did, and I think I'll be moving on to read at least a little about Miles Vorkosigan, Aral and Cordelia's son.
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LibraryThing member satyridae
9/2012 Yup. Solid 4 stars but maybe more next reading. I loved coming back to this after the whole series was under my belt. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
6/2012 I suspect that this book is going to become a 4 star book as I re-read & inhabit this series. I think I'm reading for plot now, and
I like Bujold's voice, and I'm deeply interested in the society she lays out. There are a LOT of characters here, and a lot of backstory to absorb. Every time I think I've got it figured out, there's suddenly a new character with a huge and fascinating history. Onward to the Miles books!
6/2012 I suspect that this book is going to become a 4 star book as I re-read & inhabit this series. I think I'm reading for plot now, and
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after another 3 or 5 books, I'm going to have to come back and read for character.I like Bujold's voice, and I'm deeply interested in the society she lays out. There are a LOT of characters here, and a lot of backstory to absorb. Every time I think I've got it figured out, there's suddenly a new character with a huge and fascinating history. Onward to the Miles books!
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
Wonderful audiobook of a great story. I ended up spending all day Sunday listening - just couldn't stop!
While I had remembered the basic plot, I found that many of the details had escaped me. In particular, I had forgotten how big a role Koudelka played.
While I had remembered the basic plot, I found that many of the details had escaped me. In particular, I had forgotten how big a role Koudelka played.
LibraryThing member fuzzi
This is a follow-up to Shards of Honor, and a good one at that. Intrigue and political in-fights turn into rebellion and an attempt to usurp the crown from a child-emperor. I delighted in how the characters were developed, and would like to read more stories about Cordelia and Aral.
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 1992)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 1991)
Locus Award (Finalist — Science Fiction Novel — 1992)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1993
Physical description
389 p.; 4 x 1 inches
ISBN
067172083X / 9780671720834